For too many years our brother was known as the baby. I guess everyone thought he was the last of the brood. As he grew older he was called Scottie Brown by someone and it stuck for many more years. He went through phases, such as eating only cereal, smashed bread, sitting only in one chair, wearing only white, and then refusing to wear clothes at all. Now, at least he wears clothes.
Happy Birthday!!!
Nobody blames Mom’s inability to use a phone on her age. She was the same when she was 30, 40, and so on. Phones are the only technology that she uses, unless you count the remote control. (she also has issues with it) She won’t even attempt to use a computer, GPS, or anything electronic. Mom claims that things like this just, “go crazy on her” but my sister says that mom has the ability to tear up a steel ball with a rubber hammer.
Mom has never really learned how to use call waiting. If you are talking to her and she gets a beep, she hangs up. It doesn’t matter what you are talking about, she has to go RIGHT THEN. Unless, you are her sister. Then she won’t hang up and it will beep and beep and you think she isn’t answering or something tragic has happened. Has she tripped over the dog and broken a hip? Did she pass out? My imagination goes far beyond what I can even write on here. If I can’t reach her and I know she is home, I worry.
An example of this happened yesterday. Mom has been sick and I called to check on her, knowing that she would be home alone. No answer. I tried again. No answer. I called her cell. Maybe she is talking to Peggy and won’t answer. I try later. No answer. I thought that maybe she was in a deep nap, as she is prone to do, and called a few hours later. Again no answer.
At this point I am in a slight panic and picture horrible things involving an ambulance and xanax. I call my Dad, who is only slightly more advanced and says that he will try to call her with his phone. As if I wasn’t doing it right and his would work but guess what? Still no answer.
He sends my brother rushing to check on her (thankfully he was just getting off work) and finds her with both phones “going crazy”. The landline would not ring and the cell phone would “only dial the number 3 and it kept talking to me. It kept telling me to say a command. I said BE QUIET but it never did.”
Today I called her on her landline and she answered. Only thirty seconds or so into the conversation I had a beep and it was Mom calling me from her cell. I told her that I was getting a call from her cell and she uttered a few words under her breath and then we resumed our conversation.
Mom is pretty bright and talented in many areas, but the phone wins every time.
One of my pet peeves about celebrating Father’s Day is that the thought is implied that any man who is a father deserves a gift and card. I’ve worked in public education for more than a few years and can tell that it is often a sad state of affairs in the father department. I could rant for more than anyone wants to hear about the atrocities that Joy and I both encounter on a daily basis as far as parents are concerned, but instead will move on to our Father’s Day celebration of 2010.
My husband was kind enough to volunteer a fish fry!
He did all the hard work.
Joy worked hard on a relish tray. It made a lovely centerpiece!
Everyone else brought side dishes and it was really the perfect meal! We had a great time visiting and sharing gifts with Dad.
My niece, Whittney, won the prize of the year when she gave Dad a framed picture of them together when she was about 2 and riding on the tractor with him. It made the rest of ours seem so commercial!
Then, we had desserts. More on that tomorrow, but a hint for now….
Things have been wild and crazy in our worlds. It has been almost like December around here! No matter how busy we get with dance recitals, try-outs, and life in general we don’t forget birthdays. Today would have been our great-grandmother’s birthday.
Mama Snooks
Her name was Emma Mae but we called her Mama Snooks. Nobody really knows why. She was a soft and gentle lady who made her own clothes and scoffed at the store bought “off the rack” items. Nothing fit her small frame like something she could make herself.
I remember once when we were little she babysat us and my brothers, who were about 3 and 5 or so, asked to practice their calf roping skills on her. She said yes and was soon tied to a chair, unable to move!
I was asked to bring something sentimental to a workshop next week. The first thing I thought of was the baby doll quilt she made for me from her dress scraps. I can still picture her wearing those dresses. Or, my wedding ring. After she passed I was given her engagement ring. It is white gold with a flawless ruby and hand carving design on the setting. Like she was, it is unique and beautiful.
Happy Birthday Mama Snooks.
I think that the day Joy was born is one of the most fantastic days of the year. I celebrate this occasion whether she can make the three hour trek home or not. This year, we got some beautiful cupcakes from the Bakerman and hit the road. Joy’s cupcake was special, with a heart and some bling bling. It was safe in the posession of Joy’s namesake. (Boo is named after her aunt, who is named after her mother, who is named after her aunt)
Boo, meet cupcake.
Our first stop was for a diet vanilla coke and a cherry sprite.
Joy loves all beauty shops, but Peggy's is high on her list.
Rah Rah Ree!
I'm not touching it!
Somehow we ended up far away from the mall.
Our mission: Herding donkeys.
Dad and Mason, both unsure of what they were doing.
More family to celebrate Joy's birthday and herd donkeys.
The keeper of the cupcake neglected his duties, playing instead
Sadly, it was the end of cupcake. It wasn’t the end of our fun though. We continued to celebrate Joy’s birthday with our cupcakes and a quick trip to the mall. It could have only been better if Joy had been here herself.
I love to celebrate a birthday, not just because birthdays are synonymous with cake, but that certainly doesn’t hurt anything. I do love a good bakery cake, but for some reason I have always loved the personal touch of a homemade cake more than anything. There’s really nothing more special than knowing somebody loves you enough to take the time out of their day to make you exactly what you want for your special day.
When my mother-in-law, Ninny, makes a cake, it is always from scratch. She’s from the generation where homemade cake doesn’t mean homemade from a mix, it means she actually makes the entire thing herself from start to finish. This year she was making her youngest grandson an Italian Cream Cake. I couldn’t let it pass without pictures.
Here are the ingredients for Ninny’s Prize Winning Italian Cream Cake
Cream together sugar, shortening, and margarine.
Add beaten egg yolks and vanilla.
Add buttermilk with dry ingredients. (flour, soda, salt) Do half at a time.
Fold in beaten egg whites and add coconuts and pecans.
Bake @ 325° for 30 to 35 minutes. She used a 9×13 pan but these are really moist and amazing when you use round pans and layer them.
Baking.
Now for the best part…the frosting. (or filling, as Ninny calls it)
Mix these together and beat until smooth. Spread over cooled cake. *Optional* Sprinkle chopped pecans, coconuts, or both on cake.
Ninny, looking at her masterpiece.
20 years young
And Many More.
